FINALS 1 - SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Laboratory Safety Program is an "Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals which requires that facilities engaged in laboratory use of hazardous chemicals develop and implement a written "Chemical Hygiene Plan". The plan must set forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), work practices, and policies. These must be implemented and used to protect employees and students from the potential health hazards presented by use of hazardous chemicals used in laboratories.

Initial training and annual refresher training thereafter is required for all employees who work in chemical utilizing laboratories. Laboratory safety training will vary from year to year depending upon necessity of emphasis as the need arise. This can be the following:

a.       Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Requirements

b.      Orphaned Chemicals

c.       Chemical Spills/Spill Clean Up

d.      Hazardous Waste (Shipment and Disposal)

e.       Bloodborne Pathogens

f.       Reactives and Corrosives

g.      Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

h.      Compliance with Regulatory Agencies

i.        Environmental Concerns and Impact

j.        Eyewashes and Deluge Showers

k.      Fume Hoods

l.        Housekeeping

m.    Facilities Maintenance

The following are minimum laboratory essential criteria:

1. Emergency Phone Numbers

Must be clearly and visibly posted adjacent to lab phones. Emergency phone numbers and emergency procedures must also be posted.

b.      Appropriate Warning Signs Posted

                                            i.            Warning signs must be posted outside of the laboratory for use by firefighters in emergency conditions and the names and telephone numbers of responsible laboratory personnel.

                                          ii.            Laboratories that utilize radioactive materials must also be posted with radiation warnings.

                                        iii.            Researchers working with or storing biosafety level 2 or higher organisms should also label the laboratory with the universal biohazard warnings.

c.       Food or Drink Rules

                                            i.            No food or drink is allowed in any laboratory.

                                          ii.            Application of cosmetics in a laboratory is prohibited.

                                        iii.            Smoking is prohibited in laboratories and in all buildings that house laboratories.

                                        iv.            Ice in the ice machines in science/research facilities is not safe for human consumption and is placarded as such.

d.      Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

MSDS must be on hand or on order for all chemicals within the lab. They should be maintained in a single binder or location, and be available to all employees within the lab, and for individuals reviewing lab safety procedures.

e.       Ventilation of Laboratories

                                            i.            Laboratories must be areas of controlled occupational exposure regarding indoor air quality.

                                          ii.            Fume hoods or bio safety cabinets are to be utilized as controlled areas for applicable experimentation.

                                        iii.            Laboratories must be maintained under negative air conditions.

f.        Fire Extinguishers

                                            i.            Fire extinguishers must be charged and inspected.

g.      Paths Of Egress

                                            i.            It is imperative that all laboratories have unobstructed means of egress.

h.      Electrical/Gas Safety Issues

                                            i.            Electrical

1.      Electrical cords must be of good condition. Repair with electricians’ tape is not acceptable.

2.      Cheater plugs are not authorized.

3.      Access to electrical sources must be kept clear of obstructions.

4.      There must be no visible overloading of electrical circuits.

5.      All electrical equipment must be appropriately

                                          ii.            Gas

1.      Bunsen burners and burner tubing must be routinely inspected and free of defects.

2.      Access to gas shut offs must be kept free of obstructions.

i.        Compressed Gas Cylinders

Compressed Gas Cylinders must be appropriately secured. All compressed gas cylinders inclusive of lecture bottles, EMPTY CYLINDERS, and cylinders in transit, must be secured. Cylinders are appropriately secured by a number of means including clamps and straps, chains, straps, stands, racks, and any acceptable means that eliminates the possibility of tipping over of a tank.

j.        Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

                                            i.            The individual responsible for the laboratory is also responsible for insuring that adequate PPE is on hand and in good condition for use by lab workers. 

                                          ii.            PPE will include at minimum, but not be limited to:

1. Gloves appropriate for type of research conducted
2. Lab coats/aprons (as required)
3. Safety glasses/goggles and face shields as required
4. Long sleeved clothing and long trousers/slacks to cover as much skin as possible is encouraged.
5. Short pants/short skirts are prohibited.
6. Open toed shoes/sandals are prohibited. Solid rubber soled shoes are encouraged.

l.        Machine Guarding

Machines and equipment with rotating gears, belts, and or functions that may allow entrapment of fingers, hair, clothing, etc. must be guarded.

m.    Proper Labeling of Chemicals

All chemicals in laboratories must be labeled with hazard information inclusive of chemical nomenclature, physical and health hazard information and manufacturer.

n.      Segregation of Chemicals

Stored chemicals must be separated and stored based upon compatibility and reactivity. (i.e. separate acids from bases, flammables from oxidizers, and reactives from air or water).

o.      Refrigerator Storage

i.  Do not store flammables in refrigerators.

ii.  Explosion proof and flammable refrigerators and/or freezers are to be utilized only for the intended purpose stated by the manufacturer.

p.      Physical Storage of Chemicals

i.   Do not store chemicals on shelves above eye level.

ii.  Do not store chemicals in fume hoods as bulk storage in hoods impedes airflow.

iii.  Store flammables in flammable storage cabinets.

iv.  Do not store chemicals or chemical waste on floors unless they are in secondary containment.

v.  Avoid storing chemicals in direct exposure to sunlight, excessive heat, or excessive cold.

q.      Chemical Waste

i.   Ensure that all chemical waste containers are kept closed, appropriately marked and labeled to include start date of collection.

ii.  Outdated, expired, and/or unknown chemicals must be disposed of as waste through coordination with the Chemical Coordinator, EH&S.

iii.  Chemicals that may no longer be used, or of questionable purity, or that are past expiration date should be removed from the labs.

r.       Biological Waste

Common methods for appropriate disposal include disinfecting, autoclaving, and for liquid disposal in the sanitary sewer. Be sure that the container is properly labeled, and decontaminated before disposal. Note the method of disposal for each liquid and solid waste. Observe that biohazard waste is stored in secondary containment.

s.       Sharps Disposal

Contaminated sharps include needles, syringes, scalpels, exposed dental wires, broken glass if contaminated with human blood, and other potentially infectious material(s). These items must be collected in a sharps container of other puncture resistant container that is color coded or labeled with the universal biohazard symbol.